Kingsmen crushed by unbeaten Amazon Warriors

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

The Guyana Amazon Warriors romped to their fifth consecutive victory in this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), comfortably defeating the Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets on Friday.

Once again, the Amazon Warriors were led by their bowlers, who produced another disciplined performance to restrict the visitors to 159 for seven at Providence Stadium.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz then struck a half-century, while the home side received valuable contributions throughout the innings to reach 160 for two with 16 balls to spare.

The Kingsmen did well to recover to their eventual total after Dwaine Pretorius and Khary Pierre made early inroads into the top order.

Pretorius, who was named Player of the Match, trapped opener Kirk McKenzie lbw with the final ball of the first over and later dismissed Keacy Carty in identical fashion for 18, leaving the Kingsmen 37 for two in the fifth over.

Usman Khan made a laborious 10 off 12 balls before being bowled by Pierre’s left-arm spin, while Keemo Paul was run out for 15. Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell then inside-edged the very next delivery from spinner Mohammad Nabi onto his stumps as the visitors slipped to 83 for five.

Four runs later, opener Maaz Sadaqat’s determined knock of 35 from 34 balls ended when he became Pierre’s second wicket.

However, Hassan Khan blasted an unbeaten 62 off 29 balls to give the innings late momentum, with the Kingsmen collecting 67 runs from the final five overs.

He shared a 55-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Odean Smith, who was run out in the penultimate over for 13.

Pretorius finished with 2-20, while Pierre claimed 2-21.

The Amazon Warriors wasted little time taking control, with Gurbaz and Mavendra Dindyal adding 46 runs inside the first five overs.

After hitting Hunain Shah for consecutive sixes to begin the fifth over, Dindyal was bowled for 33 off 17 balls while attempting another big hit.

The dependable Shai Hope then joined Gurbaz, and the pair effectively sealed the result during a 68-run partnership that spanned eight overs.

During the stand, Gurbaz brought up his half-century from 30 balls by launching spinner Vitel Lawes for a massive six.

Gurbaz eventually departed after slapping a full toss from Sadaqat straight to Powell at cover. He made 53 from 35 balls, striking five fours and three sixes.

Hope and the hard-hitting Shimron Hetmyer then completed the job with an unbroken stand of 46 from 30 deliveries.

Hope finished unbeaten on 39 off 35 balls, while Hetmyer ended not out on 30 from 17 balls.